Structure for refrigerators and other devices



Feb. 28, 1933. c. P. MINNING 7 1,899,710

STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATORS AND OTHER DEVICES Filed April 15, 1931 2 SheetsSheet l I INVENTOR if (Zn/n55 P/M/v/w/va.

ATTCDRNEY Feb. 28, 1933. c MlNNlNG 1,899,710

STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATORS AND OTHER DEVICES Filed April 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N V EN TO R C'wmus P/W/N/w/vqa 'ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES CHARLES r. MINNING, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA STRUCTURE FOR REFRIGERATORS AND OTHER. DEVICES Application filed April 15',

in the building of stationary refrigerators.

The refrigerator cars offami-liar design are constructedprincipally of wood, mounted on a standard chassis or truck. They are reinforced with steel rods and angles for strength and stability and lined with different insulating materials, such as paper,'felt, cork and others, between outer andinner wood Walls; thus providing central air spaces, the whole being about seven inches thick.

In such a refrigerating carit is often difficult and always expensive to keep the contents at the desired temperature and frequent re-icing and consequent loss of time en route, are unavoidable. These cars are easily damaged by rough usage, and are exposed to different climatic conditions and wide and sudden changes of temperatures, While being hauled across the country. Under these conditions wood will often shrink and warp, causing joints to open and allowing outside air and moisture to enter and search out apertures and small crevicesin the different interior layers of insulating materials, which have no continuousv unbroken surface. The air inthe air spaces above mentioned, can and will now circulate, thereby destroying theirv usefulness.

Confined air, not in a state of circulation is a well known low conductor of heat but when this air starts to flow it causes the ice to melt quickly and makes frequent examina tion and replenishing of ice necessary.

Virtually all'insul'ating materials to which I: have previously referred are fibrous and their capillary action, making them absorb moisture, is well known. Moisture and water are good conductorsofheat; they not only reduce "the insulating qualities of the different materials in a refrigerator car, but they also cause rot, mold and disintegration,

to a noveland su-V 1931. Seria1 No.5 30,2 20. T

thereby creating unsanitary conditions, WhlCll'Wlll attract rodents and other vermin. These materials, further, have no structural" strength and generally give rise to afire'hazzard besides the usual method isjto' precool the goods to be shipped, and the function of the refrigerator law is tokeep them in a cool condition. The amount of ice required todo this, depends greatly on thequantityof outside heat, that can penetrate to the inside of'the car. Existing refrigerator cars with constant attention and mostlski-llful work'- manship, are subject to great infiltration of air and moisture, requiring periodic repairs: at great expense and loss of time, and conse} quent high opera-tingcost, and give only a short lifeof the equipment at best. j An object of my invention is toprovide a refrigerator car not of several materials, but substantially of one, material,which isjoff great strength and, durability, with an ideal physical composition low. density (porous) and low thermal conductivity, non-absorbent (moisture proof)-and..,es sential quality permanent and stable-in condition, not'liable. to swell, shrink or disintegrate, sanitary and vermin proof,practical.and capable of. being easily constructed by ordinary workmen. It is also aneXcellent fire retarder and contains nothing to burn; canbe produced and operated at a low initial "and'maintenance cost and is eiqually serviceable and adaptable for. high, moderate or low temperaturesin practice. 2 I l To build this refrigerator can the custom-1' 5 ary standard trucker chassis is used and mounted thereon is a skeleton steel frame" work with bars andbrac'es and other suitable light 'iron rods andspacers, tied at the corners and having the approximate outside and inside dimensions of the car. On this frame with an air'sp'acebetween outer and inner wall, the top, bottom, sides and ends of the car are-formed- Y i "The nature and merits ofthe invention are fully set forth'in the followingdescription taken with-the drawings which illustratethe body of a refrigerating car according to'my invention. I of -course:-reserve the right: to make changes in various details I without' going beyond the principle of the invention 01' exceeding the scope or spirit of the appended claims.

011 said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away, showing in outline the framework of the body of a refrigerator car in which the features of my invention are incorporated.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the manner in which the side Walls and ends of the car are made. 7

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section on the line 33 of Figure 1, showing further how the bottom, side walls, and roof are constructed. r I r Figure. 4 is a detail showing how the framework of the bottom, roof, sides and ends of the car is put together.

I Figure 5 shows how the walls of the car are formed.

liligure 6 shows a corner of the complete wa Figures 7 and 8 show nettings of unequal mesh employed in forming the walls.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

The body of the car may have the same shape as the body of the ordinary refriger ating car now in use. In my invention, however, I build a framework comprising an outside cage 1 and a smaller inside cage 2 within the outside cage and on each of 7 these cages is a complete covering of me tallic netting indicated at 10 on'the outside cage and 200 on the inside cage. The size of the mesh ofthis netting may be about half an inch. The dimensions of the two cages will be such that the two nettings 1a and 2a will be about 7 inches apart. Between these nettings and likewise hung upon the/inner and outer cages, is a pair of nettings lb and 2b, the former being separated about 3 inches from'the netting 1a and the latter the same distance from the netting 2a; sothat throughout their extent there will be a space betweennettings 1b and 2?) about one inch thick. This space is indicatedat 3. Preferably the size of the mesh. making up the netting 1b; and 2b is inch, or about half the mesh of' the nettings 1a and 2a supported by the inner and outer cages. The framework and the four nettings above mentioned will extend over all six sides of the car body, that is the bottom, roof, sides and ends; and the spaces between the nettings la and 1b,-and 2a and 25 will be filled with a monolithic composition, introduced between nettings 1a and 1b, 2a, and 2?) in plastic condition, that will setiand harden and form a rigid mass. This material is shown at l. The body .of the car may be provlded withan opening 5 in one-side and it may likewise have the usual trap door in the roof fore-ice storage, The wheels and rails are indicated diagrammatically at band 7 in Figure 1.

The material-indicated at a is a monolithic aggregate produced by taking raw cinders from locomotives or other power plants and crushing and screening the cinders so that they are not over 1 g ofan inch in length, breadth or thickness, their modulus finesse being approximately 10. These cinders are then put into a concrete mixer and Portland cement added in the proportion of 6 or 7 parts of cinders to one of cement by volume. After intermingling I pour enough water to wet the mass enough so that it will not run or slump and then by means of compressed air and a cement gun, the aggregate is blown in through the screens 1a and 2a, which easily permits the composition to pass and enter because the mesh of the screens 10 and 2a is greater; than the largest dimension of the cinders. The inner screens 15 and 2?), however, are of smaller mesh than the largest dimension of the cinders and thesearrest and hold the aggregate so that the space 3 is not entered. The composition must be packed in well and thus the car body when finished comprises :inner and outer walls, layers or shells with the air space 3 between them, When the mass sets it takes alight gray color and because the two shells are separated with a space 3, the inside-of the car is very effectively insulated against the entrance of heat. Likewise the body of the car is without joints 01' crevices; and the air space, being entirely. enclosed, permits no circulation therein.

In some instances a refrigerator construction may be built to include only a single wall instead of a double wall with an air space therein. In that case I shall have to use only an outer netting l- -a and an inner netting of small. mesh 1-4), Withthe neces sary frame to support these nettings; and the plastic mixture is put on in the same way as before by forcingit through the outer wall of larger mesh. The wall is finished by putting on the'outside coating as before.

To. form the outside cage: I may employ angle bars at the corners indicated at 8, transverse angle bars at the ends indicated at 9 and longitudinal angle bars for the sides in: dicated at 10. These bars may be braced and tied by vertical, horizontal and diagonal reinforcing rods 11 for the bottom, top, sides and ends; and the inner cage 2 may be similarly construct-ed. The netting 1a, is spread and fastened over the six faces of the outer cage so as tobe continuous and so is the netting 2a on the inside cage .2. I also employ for the purpose of spacing the quarter inch wire nettings 1b and 2b the proper distance from each other, and from the nettings 1a and 2a., a numberlof bolts of the required length to extend from the outside cage to 'the'inside cage, as indicated at 12." These bolts (see Figure 5 will carry clips or spacers 13 which are U-shaped approximately 3 inches long withperforated arms so that the bolts can. pass through them. These bolts have heads and suitable perforated plates or washers 14 may be employed'to cooperate with the heads and engage the outer face of the netting 1a for example. Similar plates engage the netting 2a and when the nuts 15 are attached, the bolts are secured in position. The spacers 13"Will thus keep the nettings 1?; and 2b, properly spaced from the larger mesh nettings-and spacers 16 may be employed on the bolts 12-;between the nettings of quarter inch mesh if desired. The nettings 1b and12bmay also be supported upon frames made'up of vertical angle bars 17 and horizontal transverse and longitudinal bars 18 which may be reinforced by:

rods similar to the rods 11, if necessary 1 The nettings la'an'd 2a; will of coursefbe secured to the angle bars 'and'reinforcing bars-11 at as many points as required to prevent sagging. or bulging and the same procedure will be followedwiththenettin s 1b and 2b with respect to the bars or rods fbr holding them; so that thebolts 12, spacers 13-and 16, and plates 14 sufliceto hold the nettings spaced the exact distance apart overtheir entire extent. If desired also the four nettings can be supported by additional means, as by putting supports under the angle bars 9 and 10 of the inside shell at the bottom and thus taking the weight as much as possible ofi the'bolts 12 at the top-sides andends of the car. The inside and outside cages may also at their corners be connected by diagonal rods or wires 19: uniting the junction points of angle bars 9, 10'an-di 11. and theair space or pocket 3*may be divided up-into several sections on pockets by putting in enough cement tofill the air spac'eiin the verticallcor ners at the ends ofl'thecar and the horizontal corners along the top and bottom as indicated at 20.

To form the door spa-eel may use vertical rods 21 at the proper points and the'horizontal" rod or bar- 22" with diagonal. reinforcing rods or braces 23r'similar to the rods 11:

above theopening. Reinforcing angle pieces may-beemployed if desired at the ends of the braces 23; and elsewhere if desired: at the ends of'the bars 8, 9, 10 and rods 11: When the cement and cinders have set and hardened, the inside andoutside faces of the walls of the bar are given a finishing-coat 25 by taking cinderswhich; are crushed as fine as sand mixed with cement in the proportion of four parts of cinders to one of cement by volume, treated with slightly more water and then put on so as to form a covering about one-half an inch thick. The pores of the walls of the car are thus closed, giving a smooth, even surface, impervious to water. The spaces between the nettings 1a an efiicient insulator andentirely lea'k proof.

The metallic framework or caging will preventcra'cking and breaking at any point.

Some of the properties of'a car constructed in thismanner'of one material, besides its inherent strength, may be enumerated asfollows-z The car is of low density, being porous,-

and low thermal conductivity. It is'nonabsorbent and proof against moisture and water.- ,Its condition is permanent because in no part will it swell, shrink, crack, spell or disintegrate; itis sanitary, offers nolodging to vermin and can be washed with a hose. It isea-sily constructed and can be built by ordinary workmen; it is fire-proof and-costs practically nothing to maintain; it'will not be affectedby sudden and extreme changes in temperaturef :It will stand very rough usage" without impairing its efficiency. It is entirely enclosed and will prevent infiltration ofair. It isadaptable for sharp freezing at low temperatures and in case of fire its contents will be pr'otectedand preserved in a manner-which cannot be done with present construction. With this car body goods will not? be influenced by anychange' in temperature, evengin-case fof'fire, because temperatures of .400? have been found to have no influence on the interior-l 'A car body of this description can be ,built for permanent mounting on the truck of'an ordinary car. or it can be built; as a separate unit and mounted temporarily onafiat car, leaving the flat car available for use at other times withoutthe' refrigerator.

Itmakes' no difference whatkind'of refrig-' erant is ,used ,fwhetherwater, iceor frozen carbon dioxide; and-if thelatter is employed low temperatures 1 can "be obtained for shipping goodsthat areffrozen outright. This kind of refrigeration is now in the experimentalstage and resultsso'far have been poor onaccountof inadequateequipment.

This ,car can-be c'onstructedat, asavin g of 20 to;30 ov.er present costs. The mixture of cindersandcement will readily takeand hold nails and screws without, crackin g. It is also electricallynon-conducting and acid-proof. I- can; also usethis type of! construction for. passenger carswbecause the walls will take any kind of finish and decoration. The ma terialis'even to some extent flexibleland resilient. It will. withstand severe stresses even if made up with reinforcements. into the no mortar joints to openand crack under the stress of heat. It is excellent for backing fire-brickin smelters and'furnaces so as to prevent heat radiation: also to cover boilers. Another important characteristic is that it transmits sound verypoorly and it can. therefore be employed fortalking picture studies, theatres and auditoriums, telephone booths, partitions, walls and bulkheads on ships.

' Ifrused for passenger cars, the surfaces can be finished 1n any kind of colors by mixlng pigments with the finishing coating and this coatng ground smooth and polshed so as to app-earlike marble or stone. Designs can be traced upon the coating 25 or it can be painted;and fixturesand trim are easily secured to the surfaces because nails and screws hold very readily without damaging.

The invention is thus of considerable importance in the building of walls and partitions for structures which are intended for other uses than refrigeration, Obviously,

' with a method as above described involving the nettings of unequal mesh so that a plastic can be forced through netting of larger mesh and stopped bythe smaller, a wall or partition can be very readily and inexpensively erected. V

I have found that railroad ties constructed by this process are very practical and almost indestructible. They will give. results not obtainable with sand and gravel concrete ties because they are strong, tough andresilient and will withstand stresses thatwou-ld break the ordinary brittle concrete tie.

Having described ,my'invention what I believe to be new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A structure comprising inner and'outer nettings, intervening separated nettings of smaller mesh than the inner and outer nettings and continuous .cementitious material between the inner and outer nettings and the intervening nettings, making layers with air spaces between the intervening nettings.

2. Astructure comprising inner and outer nettings, means for supporting the same, intervening nettings, spacing and holding elements forfthe intervening nettings attached to the inner and outer nettings, said inter-' v-ening nettings being of smaller mesh. than the outer nettings. and cementitious material etc., andwalls which aretobe rendered fire-proof. It has forming inner and outer layers secured to said nettings.

3. A structure comprising inner and outer nettings, means for supporting the same, intervemng nettings, spacing and holding ele HIGIItS-fOI the intervening nettings attached to the inner and outer nettings, said inter; vening nettings being of smaller mesh than the outer nettings and cementitious material forming inner and outer layers secured to said nettings, said layersbeing cemented together at the cornersthereof. n v 4., The method of, building a structure which consists in supporting two nettings, of. unequal mesh adjacent one another witha space between them, mixing cement with cindersv of-larger size than the netting-of the smaller mesh and injecting the mixture into said space through the netting of the larger mesh. p

5. The method of building a structure which consists in supporting two nettings of relatively small mesh between two othernettings of larger mesh, all of said nettings being spaced apart, mixing cement with cinders of smaller size than thenettings of larger mesh, injecting said mixture in opposite ;directionsthrough the nettings of larger mesh against nettings of smaller mesh, and allowing said mixture to set to form astructure of two layers with an air chamber between them. a 7 j 6. The method according toclaim 5 in which the two outer faces of saidstructure are also given a finished coating of fine cinders and cement. I ,;v

7. A structure comprising a pair ofjnettings, one being of larger mesh than the other to enable said structure to be formed by forc in g a mixture of cement with cinders through the net of the'larger mesh against thenetting of smaller mesh, 'said. mixture filling the space between thenets and being retained thereby.- 8. A structure comprising a wall made of two nets in substantially parallel position, one of the nets being of larger mesh so that the structure can be formed by forcinga mixture of cement and cinders through the net: of larger mesh, said mixture filling the space between the nets and making thestructure continuous, and a finished coating of fine cinders with cement on one faceof said structure.

Signed at'Los Angeles in the county of Los Angeles and State of California this, 26th day of January A. D1931.

MINNING CHARLES P. 

